THE CHOCOLATE WAR by Robert Cormier isn’t your typical “feel good” school story --- a group of bullies, together with the vice-principal, determine to make new kid Jerry Renault’s life far less than pleasant because he refuses to participate in the annual chocolate fundraiser. The story explores themes of non-conformity, power and mob mentality --- you’ll find no friendly pick-up games or comic book exchanges, here.
Although critically praised as “rich in theme” (New York Times), “compellingly immediate” (Kirkus Reviews) and “superb” (School Library Journal), the book has also faced backlash for its violent scenes and strong language, and has been banned in schools across the country.
Below, Jo Knowles (READ BETWEEN THE LINES, JUMPING OFF SWINGS, LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL and more) and Teen Board member Chris C. talk about why they love THE CHOCOLATE WAR and why it shouldn’t be banned.
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Do you remember when you read this book for the first time? How old were you? Did you read it for school or for pleasure?
Jo Knowles: I was in high school, and it was the first novel I remember reading from start to finish. I was never able to get lost in a book until I read THE CHOCOLATE WAR. It was the first book that acknowledged bad things happen in the world --- in the real world. Up until then, the books I'd read were "safe." People made mistakes, but the adults were responsible and the kids learned their lessons and there was never a moment of doubt that everything would be OK. But in my life, kids did horrible things to each other without consequences. I saw my brother get bullied and harassed by students and teachers. Here was a book that finally told my truth. Here was a book that, for the first time, showed me I wasn't alone in what I witnessed. When Jerry read that poster in his locker, "Do I Dare Disturb The Universe?" and decided to dare, I wanted to too. Just like Jerry, I wanted it all to end. This book set me on the course for how I lived my life, wanting to make a positive change in the world and daring to try.
Chris C.: I remember reading this book when I was 13 years old in the seventh grade during spring break. I had heard from one of my teachers that the book was considered “really controversial” because of its language but that it was an enjoyable read. So, I took it upon myself to read it in my free time, and, upon finishing the book, was shocked that anyone could consider the book controversial because it was such an interesting and enjoyable read for me. At that point, I didn’t understand why the profanity and derogatory terms mattered. Many great books used them; it’s all just a matter of context and whether the reader can look past the words to understand why the author chose to include them.
What do you like about this book, and how would you persuade somebody else to read it?
JK: I love that Cormier showed different points of view and explored what made each character behave the way he did, including the "bullies." It exposed how complex and damaged they were, and attempted to show how even the worst of us have become that way for a reason, and often a painful one. After I read this book, I began to have more empathy and compassion for the people in my life, even the bullies. It changed the way I perceived the world and how I treated others. I stopped making assumptions about people and started trying to understand them better. It was the inspiration, 25 years later, for how I structured READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
CC: What I like about this book is that it had a practical plot: Jerry found himself in a situation where he was pitted against several individuals with some sort of power (Archie Costello, Brother Leon and Emile Janza). Jerry realized that the power these people had would always make them win, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. Additionally, I really liked how Jerry’s story could fit any student’s today: being new, an outcast and trying to find his own voice.
A parent from Oregon said THE CHOCOLATE WAR should be banned because it is “peppered with profanities, ranging from derogatory slang terms to sexual encounters and violence.” If you had the chance to respond to that quote, what would you say?
JK: I don't think those are valid reasons to ban a book for teenagers. It's not going to protect them from hearing swears or learning about sex or being exposed to fictional violence. That's just unavoidable. Frankly, I think a book is the safest place to first be exposed to any of these things, because it's almost always in the context of survival. Cormier is simply trying to accurately portray the landscape of the school Jerry goes to. These are the words he hears. These are the things he sees. He lives in a harsh, ugly world and he's trying to navigate his way through it. That's his story --- and the story a lot of kids live today. If it were told differently, without profanity or violence, it wouldn't be true to the characters' experiences. And it certainly wouldn't be very believable. Of course we don't want our kids to live in that kind of environment, but if we don't talk about the harsh realities that exist, they will never change.
CC:I would say, it’s literature. The book would not be the same if it had been written any other way. Robert Cormier wanted to portray his characters as realistically as possible and so it is no surprise that the book is rife with profanity, among other things. It takes a mature reader to handle the themes of depression and profanity laced within the book, so I believe that the language can and should be viewed as nothing more than an effective device to enrich the story and character development.
You need to give the protagonist of this book a book recommendation. What would you recommend, and why?
JK: I think I would give him a copy of this book, so that he could see that in the end, he has the strength to disturb the universe after all. And I'd add a note thanking him for inspiring me to try to do the same.
CC: If I could recommend a book to the protagonist, Jerry Renault, it would be LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding. Jerry’s story is much like Ralph’s in that they both fall to someone with greater power but questionable morals, and so I believe Jerry would appreciate and sympathize with it.
